'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Ballon d’Or awards and ranking list were finally announced last night and it came as no surprise to anyone that Portugal and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo picked up his 4th Ballon d’Or award.
What came as a surprise, however, is that 11 players received no points at all from the journalists and were unranked. Some huge stars like Sergio Ramos, Andres Iniesta and Manuel Neuer failed to make the cut.
Also read: Ballon d'Or 2016: 5 players who deserved to be in the top 17
While the players in the top 17 undoubtedly had an amazing year for club and country, some of the players left out might have deserved to be ranked ahead of them. In this article, we take a look at 5 players who are lucky to be in the Ballon d’Or top 17.
#5 Rui Patricio – Rank 12
The Portuguese shot-stopper might have been one of the star performers in the Euro 2016 final, but apart from that, Patricio was not especially spectacular throughout the year. While the goalkeeper was undoubtedly solid between the sticks for Sporting CP, the fact that he was ranked at number 12 ahead of some stalwarts like Manuel Neuer, Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta definitely caused quite a few eyebrows to be raised.
Being one of the standout performers in one single match (Euro 2016 final) cannot discount the performances of others throughout the year and while it may sound harsh, there is no denying the fact that there are many more deserving candidates who can be ahead of the talented Portuguese shot stopper.
Social Media as always went into overdrive, but the above tweet captured how most people felt.
#4 Dimitri Payet – Rank 17
The standout player in West Ham United’s squad, Dimitri Payet had a dream 2016, but considering the top class footballers currently plying their trade in Europe and on the 30 man shortlist, the inclusion of Payet at 17 was slightly controversial.
The Frenchman was absolutely sensational for West Ham this year, but in the end, they failed to qualify for the main draw of the Europa League and even France fell agonisingly short in the Euro 2016 final.
Although Payet sizzled in the opening rounds for France, his performance levels dropped in the knockout games and he failed to live up in the really big matches. Having said all that, Payet did have an excellent year personally, but there will be some players who will feel that they did more with their club and country than the mercurial Frenchman.
While Sanchez was not in the top 30 at all (Surprising, I know), the other 11 players on the shortlist who did not get any votes will be feeling pretty similar as well.
#3 Arturo Vidal – Rank 14
The Bayern Munich midfielder is undoubtedly among the top midfielders of the world right now, but the combative Chilean did not exactly have a breathtaking season for the Bundesliga giants.
The Chilean took some time to settle in the Bayern Munich side and struggled to hit the heights he is capable of under Pep Guardiola. Although Vidal did not have a bad season by any stretch of the imagination, the box-to-box midfielder was definitely capable of much more.
The Bayern Munich man did win the Copa America Centenario this year, but Sanchez and even Vargas played a bigger role in Chile’s triumph. Vidal is a player which any manager would love to have in his team, but his Ballon d’Or rank of 14 might have just been a bit too high considering the Chilean’s performances this year.
#2 Paul Pogba – Rank 14
The Ballon d'Or award is given for the performances in the entire calendar year and while Paul Pogba did have a good first couple of months for Juventus, his performances started ti dip around April and he was even left on the bench for a couple of matches by France manager Didier Deschamps.
After securing his world record transfer move to Manchester United, the young and talented midfielder hasn't exactly set the world on fire, showing only glimpses of the vast potential he possesses.
Midfielders like Andres Iniesta and Kevin De Bruyne arguably had better years than the Frenchman and they would have expected a place in the top 17 ahead of the Manchester United superstar.
The above tweet best signifies Pogba’s year. While the Frenchman had a decent year and was in no way a flop, he is yet to hit his full potential and we might see the best of the Manchester United midfielder in years to come.
#1 Toni Kroos – Rank 17
Somewhat controversially on this list is Toni Kroos. While the Real Madrid midfielder has been one of the most effective performers for Los Blancos, the All Whites have shown that they can cope pretty well in his absence as well.
Some people found it sacrilegious that the German playmaker was ranked as low as 17th, but with his club side captain, Sergio Ramos failing to get any vote, Madrid fans will be the first to admit the importance of Ramos over Kroos.
The only reason Kroos is on this list is that players like Sergio Ramos and Andres Iniesta do not make it. The German definitely deserves a place on the 30 man shortlist, but whether he deserves to be ranked above Ramos, Iniesta, De Bruyne, Dybala and et.al, remains a matter of debate.
In all honesty, both these players deserved to be in the top 17.
